Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => Computers, Technology, Websites => Topic started by: Cera on June 14, 2025, 11:34:11 AM
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I need a new laptop and all I see are spying Chrome and spying Windows 11. Are there other options?
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I need a new laptop and all I see are spying Chrome and spying Windows 11. Are there other options?
If you buy one new, you could probably have someone install a fresh copy of Windows 10. You're not seeing any new ones with Windows 10 because they're ending support in October.
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Mint Linux (https://www.linuxmint.com/) is just as easy to use as Windows and is free. It doesn't come with Chrome installed, either.
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If you buy one new, you could probably have someone install a fresh copy of Windows 10. You're not seeing any new ones with Windows 10 because they're ending support in October.
Windows 10 will become obsolete, meaning no more security updates. So leave Win 10 behind if you think of using the internet.. Banking apps, government, BIG businesses probably won't allow Win 10, just like they don't allow DuckDuck to work efficiently.
I need to upgrade but I like that Mint Linux idea. Ubuntu too ? Are there instructions on a clean install on HP Pavillion tower, which is still working just super?: ...shame to discard it.Thanks. For the glory of God.
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They want us to be hacked and lose money.
Also, need provider. I don’t trust T mobile.
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Just use Linux and use Brave as a browser. Recommended distros: Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Zorin OS.
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And I will also add that unless you truly need it—AI work, graphics, whatever, you won't need a brand-new laptop. The one I use is $300. It's a budget Acer I bought sight unseen because my previous one had run its course. It works just fine.
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Are there instructions on a clean install on HP Pavillion tower, which is still working just super?: ...shame to discard it.Thanks. For the glory of God.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BoqSxHTTNs&feature=youtu.be
Just make sure you meet the requirements for RAM, CPU, GPU, etc. But I don't know a distro with more requirements that Windows, so if you can run Windows 10 you can run Linux. And make sure that the fans are working properly after the install.
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Just use Linux and use Brave as a browser. Recommended distros: Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Zorin OS.
Thank you Drolo. I'm ignorant on tech things, but aren't these operating systems? I am trying to buy a laptop that does not come with Chrome or Windows already pre-installed.
I still have Windows 10 in spite of all their lame attempts to trick me into Windows 11. But things are getting really wonky and I think it may be because I refuse to "upgrade."
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Thank you Drolo. I'm ignorant on tech things, but aren't these operating systems? I am trying to buy a laptop that does not come with Chrome or Windows already pre-installed.
I still have Windows 10 in spite of all their lame attempts to trick me into Windows 11. But things are getting really wonky and I think it may be because I refuse to "upgrade."
Yes, they are operating systems, they are Linux distros, the core, the Kernel, is the same in all Linux Distros, but then some details change, but the three I have mentioned are practically the same, the differences are minimal.
Windows 10 Support ends in October 2025. You can extend it by paying, but each additional year you want is a lot of more expensive.
I don't recommend having an operating system that no longer has support, you will not have security updates, and it will increasingly have more exploits and security problems in general without fixing. I think it's a very bad idea to continue using an unsupported OS.
Follow this video to learn how to install Linux:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BoqSxHTTNs&t=1s
About Laptops. Avoid ASUS Laptops, and Nvidia GPU. They usually have problems with Linux.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BoqSxHTTNs&feature=youtu.be
Just make sure you meet the requirements for RAM, CPU, GPU, etc. But I don't know a distro with more requirements that Windows, so if you can run Windows 10 you can run Linux. And make sure that the fans are working properly after the install.
Great advice so far. Thank you so much. When Google gets sued million$ in the EU , or wherever, it never seems to go mainstream. And when you do a search, they basically show what is popular, trending. So it is not great for researching, cause nobody goes to those good unknown sites and that skews the algo rhythms. Just try to find +Aquinas's monastery for example..!
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I'm just curious, I really don't know, but how are Chrome and Windows 11 "spying" and Windows 10 or older, or other browsers such as Microsoft Edge, and even Linux not "spying"? If your machine can get to the world wide web, someone on the world wide web can potentially get to your machine. There are good security systems, but the only way to absolutely know you aren't being spied on is to stay off the internet and only interact in person with people you know and trust. Not texting, using a land line (with a corded phone, not wireless) telephone, use postal mail, subscribe to print periodicals and/or check out printed material from your local library offer greater security from spying than being on the internet, but things can still be traced. If absolutely necessary to check the net, use public machines at the library or a cyber cafe, not your personal computer.
If Linux is open source and available at no cost, who provides "security updates" for it? How are they supporting themselves? I think the Edge browser comes automatically with Windows, as they both are Microsoft, I'm pretty sure I had to download Chrome on my current laptop, it wasn't included. I assume that with Linux one still need to also install a web browser. What browser should people use? And again, would there not be an at least the theoretical possibility of being spied on through it?
Just try to find +Aquinas's monastery for example..!
I typed "Bishop Aquinas' monastery" (without the ") into both the Edge and Chrome search bars. on BOTH the very first return was
https://dominicansavrille.us/presentation-of-bishop-dom-thomas-aquinas-o-s-b-part-1/ (https://dominicansavrille.us/presentation-of-bishop-dom-thomas-aquinas-o-s-b-part-1/)
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I'm just curious, I really don't know, but how are Chrome and Windows 11 "spying" and Windows 10 or older, or other browsers such as Microsoft Edge, and even Linux not "spying"? If your machine can get to the world wide web, someone on the world wide web can potentially get to your machine. There are good security systems, but the only way to absolutely know you aren't being spied on is to stay off the internet and only interact in person with people you know and trust. Not texting, using a land line (with a corded phone, not wireless) telephone, use postal mail, subscribe to print periodicals and/or check out printed material from your local library offer greater security from spying than being on the internet, but things can still be traced. If absolutely necessary to check the net, use public machines at the library or a cyber cafe, not your personal computer.
It's generally about the amount of telemetry/tracking built-in, Chrome has both the data cookies stored from each site plus extra tracking such as "Manage you Ad privacy"
https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/13355898?hl=en
Windows 11 has greater integration with Microsoft accounts and the Edge browser, so it can collect more data if that is not disabled
https://www.techdecoded.org/windows-11-vs-windows-10-data-collection-privacy-comparison
If Linux is open source and available at no cost, who provides "security updates" for it? How are they supporting themselves? I think the Edge browser comes automatically with Windows, as they both are Microsoft, I'm pretty sure I had to download Chrome on my current laptop, it wasn't included. I assume that with Linux one still need to also install a web browser. What browser should people use? And again, would there not be an at least the theoretical possibility of being spied on through it?
Each Linux-based OS generally has a development team of paid and/or volunteers who look after updates, with money coming from donors and sponsors. For example https://www.linuxmint.com/sponsors.php
For browsers on Linux you can get more user-privacy oriented ones like Brave or Firefox with custom configuration for privacy. As you've said as long as your accessing the internet your ISP will know, it's more about how much you want others to know, ie spending habits etc, which can build up a unique profile of someone without requiring their name.
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I need a new laptop and all I see are spying Chrome and spying Windows 11. Are there other options?
Seconded for the Linux mint if you or someone else can install it.
Otherwise a Mac is decent for user privacy.
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It is rumored Linux has NSA back doors. Essentially, the more you security-up, the more attention you attract.
The goal should be to avoid unnecessary snooping such as by corporate entities who then onsell your data.
Install Ubuntu - all you need is a USB, https://unetbootin.github.io/ and the distro https://ubuntu.com/
Linux is free - if you don't value your time. It has a learning curve. Although terminal has been reduced, it's handy to have.
So at least - go for a Linux Distro, get a browser with ad blocking features, get a VPN like ProtonVPN and that way you'll reduce your footprint.
People who go all the other way will end up getting on a watchlist (I only really want to prevent corporate snooping - as for the government, I have nothing to hide. If it becomes an issue, then they should be scared). People who do nothing will end up on a corporate profile with picture, govt. details, and personal details. You don't want that.
If Linux is too hard in 2025, then you are being a sissy-baby :'( There are plenty of apps such a LibreOffice, Thunderbird that replicate the Windows experience. Even PlayonLinux and Lutris for Windows strategy games that you might like...
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I'm just curious, I really don't know, but how are Chrome and Windows 11 "spying" and Windows 10 or older, or other browsers such as Microsoft Edge, and even Linux not "spying"?
You can use Wireshark to check yourself how your Windows machine (10 and 11) is constantly connecting to Microsoft servers. Even if you disable telemetry. You can do the same with a Linux Mint machine and see the difference.
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Great advice so far. Thank you so much. When Google gets sued million$ in the EU , or wherever, it never seems to go mainstream. And when you do a search, they basically show what is popular, trending. So it is not great for researching, cause nobody goes to those good unknown sites and that skews the algo rhythms. Just try to find +Aquinas's monastery for example..!
Try Yandex
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I need a new laptop and all I see are spying Chrome and spying Windows 11. Are there other options?
Depends how paranoid you are. If you want better privacy without compromising daily functionality, buy a used ThinkPad or Dell Latitude/Precision and put Mint Linux on it (do not install Ubuntu, it's the Windows 10/11 of Linux). Both ThinkPads and Dell Latitudes and Precisions are enterprise-level laptops that are cheap to buy used, relatively easy to service, have plenty of docuмentation, and have good part availability. The specific model to recommend to you would come down entirely to your needs and preferences (e.g. screen size, battery life, touch screen, etc.). And Mint Linux is the best distro for Linux beginners. It just works, and it has Ubuntu's advantages without the disadvantages.
If you're government whistleblower-level paranoid, buy a Libreboot ThinkPad (some people on Ebay sell them ready to go for you since it's a hassle to properly install Libreboot and get drivers working) and use a distro like Tails OS. Libreboot removes all of the propriety firmware in the laptop like the NSA backdoors in Intel CPUs. You will also want to avoid all proprietary drives in the distro you're using, as it's a safe assumption that all proprietary software either spies on you or has deliberate backdoors to allow others to potentially spy on you.
For browser options, either use Brave if you need a Chrome alternative or Librewolf for a good Firefox alternative (stock Firefox has telemetry turned on by default). UnGoogled Chromium might also be an option.
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I typed "Bishop Aquinas' monastery" (without the ") into both the Edge and Chrome search bars. on BOTH the very first return was
https://dominicansavrille.us/presentation-of-bishop-dom-thomas-aquinas-o-s-b-part-1/ (https://dominicansavrille.us/presentation-of-bishop-dom-thomas-aquinas-o-s-b-part-1/)
Hey thanks for the research...however, where can one see Bishop Thomas Aquinas' Monastery web site.? For the sake of discussion, not really about this thread, I do have his Monastery web site in Brasil, just send me a PM when you are able to find it...then you or I can start a thread and share the link. The good BENEDICTINE bishop is asking for fund$ for a seminary I believe.
Deo gratias+
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The laptop itself doesn't matter as much as what you install on it. Some laptops (e.g. some Dell/Lenovo ones) even have configs with Linux pre-installed.
As for which Linux to install, both Linux Mint and Ubuntu are great beginner-friendly options.
https://linuxmint.com/
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MacBook Air. You will thank you me later.